Knockdown of MMP11 inhibits proliferation and invasion of gastric cancer cells

Integrated single-cell RNA sequencing analysis reveals a mesenchymal stem cell-associated signature for estimating prognosis and drug sensitivity in gastric cancer

BACKGROUND

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) play an important role in regulating all stages of the immune response, angiogenesis, and transformation of matrix components in the tumor microenvironment. The aim of this study was to identify the prognostic value of MSC-related signatures in patients with gastric cancer (GC).

METHODS

MSC marker genes were identified by analyzing single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) data for GC from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. Using bulk sequencing data from the Cancer Genome Atlas-Stomach adenocarcinoma (TCGA-STAD), as a training cohort, and data from GEO, as a validation cohort, we developed a risk model consisting of MSC prognostic signature genes, and classified GC patients into high- and low-MSC risk subgroups. Multifactorial Cox regression was used to evaluate whether MSC prognostic signature was an independent prognostic factor. An MSC nomogram was constructed combining clinical information and risk grouping. Subsequently, we evaluated the effect of MSC prognostic signature on immune cell infiltration, antitumor drugs and immune checkpoints and verified the expression of MSC prognostic signature by in vitro cellular assays.

RESULTS

In this study, 174 MSC marker genes were identified by analyzing scRNA-seq data. We identified seven genes (POSTN, PLOD2, ITGAV, MMP11, SDC2, MARCKS, ANXA5) to construct MSC prognostic signature. MSC prognostic signature was an independent risk factor in the TCGA and GEO cohorts. GC patients in the high-MSC risk group had worse prognoses. In addition, the MSC nomogram has a high clinical application value. Notably, the MSC signature can induce the development of a poor immune microenvironment. GC patients in the high MSC-risk group were more sensitive to anticancer drugs and tended to have higher levels of immune checkpoint markers. In qRT-PCR assays, the MSC signature was more highly expressed in GC cell lines.

CONCLUSIONS

The MSC marker gene-based risk signature developed in this study can not only be used to predict the prognosis of GC patients, but also has the potential to reflect the efficacy of antitumor therapies.

Construction of an original anoikis-related prognostic model closely related to immune infiltration in gastric cancer

Background: Anoikis is considered as a particular type of programmed cell death, the weakness or resistance of which contributes greatly to the development and progression of most malignant solid tumors. However, the latent impact of anoikis-related genes (ARGs) on gastric cancer (GC) is still ambiguous. Based on these, this study established an anoikis-related prognostic model of GC to identify the prognosis of patients and provide more effective treatment in clinical practice. Methods: First, we extracted four public datasets containing the gene expression and clinicopathological information of GC, which were worked as the training and validating sets, separately. Then, an anoikis-related survival-predicted model of GC was developed via Lasso and COX regression analyses and verified by using the Kaplan-Meier (KM) curve and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analyses. Next, we assigned GC patients to two groups characterized by the risk score calculated and analyzed somatic mutation, functional pathways, and immune infiltration between the different two groups. Finally, a unique nomogram was offered to clinicians to forecast the personal survival probability of GC patients. Results: Based on seven anoikis-related markers screened and identified, a carcinogenic model of risk score was produced. Patients placed in the high-score group suffered significantly worse overall survival (OS) in four cohorts. Additionally, the model revealed a high sensitivity and specificity to prognosticate the prognoses of GC patients [area under the ROC curve (AUC) at 5-year = 0.713; GSE84437, AUC at 5-year = 0.639; GSE15459, AUC at 5-year = 0.672; GSE62254, AUC at 5-year = 0.616]. Apart from the excellent predictive performance, the model was also identified as an independent prediction factor from other clinicopathological characteristics. Combining anoikis-related prognostic model with GC clinical features, we built a more comprehensive nomogram to foresee the likelihood of survival of GC patients in a given year, showing a well-accurate prediction performance. Conclusion: In summary, this study created a new anoikis-related signature for GC, which has potentially provided new critical insights into survival prediction and individualized therapy development.

Pyroptosis, apoptosis, and necroptosis molecular subtype derived prognostic signature universal applicable for gastric cancer-A large sample and multicenter retrospective analysis

BACKGROUND

Whether pyroptosis, apoptosis, and necroptosis (PAN) molecular subtypes exist in gastric cancer (GC) remains unclear.

METHODS

Seven independent cohorts including a total of 1901 GC patients were enrolled in our research. TCGA (n = 371) and GSE84437 (n = 433) were combined into one cohort (n = 804) to screen for prognosis-related PAN genes using a univariate Cox regression analysis. The R package "ConsensusClusterPlus" was applied to conduct a clustering analysis of the combination set based on prognosis-related PAN genes. The R package "limma" was used for the identification of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between different PAN clusters (FDR <0.05 and |logFC|>1). The combined cohort was randomly divided into a training group (n = 484) and a test group (n = 320) at a ratio of 6:4 to establish and verify the prognostic model. A univariate Cox regression analysis, least absolute shrinkage and selection operator method (LASSO) regression analysis, and multivariate Cox regression analysis were used for the identification of prognostic genes and the construction of risk scores. Another five independent cohorts (GSE62254, n = 300; GSE15459, n = 191; GSE26901, n = 109; GSE26253, n = 432; and GSE13861, n = 65) were used for external validation to verify the accuracy and stability of the prognostic signature.

RESULTS

The internal and external validation demonstrated that the 5-gene risk score (LOXL4, SLCO2A1, CST2, PDK4, and MMP11) was an effective instrument for the prognostic risk classification of GC patients. The overall survival (OS) and relapse-free survival (RFS) in the high-risk group were significantly lower than those in the low-risk group and were accompanied by a larger proportion of macrophage and regulatory T cell infiltration. The low-risk group had a good prognosis, with a high tumor mutation burden (TMB), strong cytolytic activity, and a higher proportion of activated CD4 T cell infiltration. In addition, compared with the low-risk group, the cancer-related pathways in the high-risk group were overactivated, and the function of DNA damage repair (DDR) was significantly weakened. Regarding drug sensitivity, the high-risk group was more suitable for targeted drugs, such as axitinib, lapatinib, and nilotinib. The low-risk group was more sensitive to chemotherapy, such as cisplatin, gemcitabine, and vinorelbine.

CONCLUSION

A universally applicable prognostic signature of GC is proposed in this research based on pyroptosis, apoptosis, and necroptosis (PAN) molecular subtypes.

An MMP-based risk score strongly distinguishes prognosis in hepatocellular carcinoma after resection

Aim: To first explore the prognostic value of MMP11 and MMP15 in hepatocellular carcinoma. Methods: MMP11/MMP15 expression was immunohistochemically detected and correlated with clinicopathologic variables and survival and confirmed in publicly available databases. An MMP-based risk score (MMPRS) was established. Results: Tumoral MMP11/MMP15 expression was higher and univariately associated with crucial clinicopathologic parameters, overall survival and disease-free survival in all patients and/or many subsets. Multivariately, MMP11/MMP15 expression remained significant. Their overexpression and prognostic value were confirmed in the Ualcan and Kaplan-Meier plotter databases. Critically, the novel MMPRS integrating MMP11, MMP15 and tumor-node-metastasis stage identified subgroups with the best and worst prognoses, with much higher predictive power. Conclusion: MMP11 and MMP15 served as prognosticators in hepatocellular carcinoma. MMPRS might work more accurately.

Mechanism of miR-340-5p in laryngeal cancer cell proliferation and invasion through the lncRNA NEAT1/MMP11 axis

OBJECTIVES

Laryngeal cancer (LC), with a relatively rare diagnosis, is a primary malignancy originating from laryngeal mucosa. This study investigated the mechanisms of microRNA (miR)- 340-5p in LC cell proliferation and invasion.

METHODS

The expression patterns of miR-340-5p, long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) nuclear paraspeckle assembly transcript 1 (NEAT1), and matrix metallopeptidase 11 (MMP11) in LC cells, tissues, and para-carcinoma tissues, and human bronchial epithelial cells (HBEC) were examined via RT-qPCR. The effects of elevating or silencing miR-340-5p on LC cell proliferation and invasion were examined. The subcellular localization of lncRNA NEAT1 was determined. The binding relations among miR-340-5p, lncRNA NEAT1, and MMP11 were verified. Functional rescue experiments were designed to verify the functions of lncRNA NEAT1 and MMP11 on LC cell proliferation and invasion. Nude-mouse tumor models were established to assess the role of miR-340-5p in LC in vivo.

RESULTS

miR-340-5p was under-expressed in LC, and miR-340-5p overexpression repressed LC cell proliferation and invasion. Mechanically, miR-340-5p decreased lncRNA NEAT1 stability via directly binding to lncRNA NEAT1 and thus declined lncRNA NEAT1 expression in LC cells, while lncRNA NEAT1 accelerated MMP11 transcription via binding to heat shock factor 1 (HSF1). Overexpression of lncRNA NEAT1 or MMP11 reversed the repression of miR-340-5p overexpression on LC cell proliferation and invasion. In vivo, miR-340-5p overexpression repressed the tumor growth.

CONCLUSION

miR-340-5p overexpression reduced lncRNA NEAT1 stability via binding to lncRNA NEAT1, which declined lncRNA NEAT1 expression and reduced the binding of lncRNA NEAT1 to HSF1 to further inhibit MMP11 transcription, thus repressing LC cell proliferation and invasion.

Lamin B1 is a potential therapeutic target and prognostic biomarker for hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is an aggressive malignancy. Previous studies have found that lamin B1 (LMNB1) contributes to the development of human cancers. However, the biological functions and prognostic values of LMNB1 in HCC have not been adequately elucidated. In our present research, the expression pattern of LMNB1 was analyzed. The prognostic values of LMNB1 were evaluated by Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and Cox proportional hazards regression analysis. The effects of LMNB1 on HCC progression were assessed by Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8), colony formation, wound healing, Transwell and in vivo xenograft assays. The mechanisms of LMNB1 in HCC progression were elucidated by gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) and loss-of-function assays. Besides, a nomogram for predicting overall survival (OS) was constructed. The results demonstrated that LMNB1 was overexpressed in HCC and that increased LMNB1 expression predicted a dismal prognosis. Further experiments showed that LMNB1 facilitated cell proliferation and metastasis in HCC. Functional enrichment analysis revealed that LMNB1 modulated metastasis-associated biological functions such as focal adhesion, extracellular matrix, cell junctions and cell adhesion. Mechanistically, we revealed that LMNB1 promoted HCC progression by regulating the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways. Moreover, incorporating LMNB1, Ki67 and Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) stage into a nomogram showed better predictive accuracy than the Tumor-Node-Metastasis (TNM) stage and BCLC stage. In conclusion, LMNB1 may serve as an effective therapeutic target as well as a reliable prognostic biomarker for HCC.

Proteolytic Landscapes in Gastric Pathology and Cancerogenesis

Gastric cancer is a leading cause of cancer-related death, and a large proportion of cases are inseparably linked to infections with the bacterial pathogen and type I carcinogen Helicobacter pylori. The development of gastric cancer follows a cascade of transformative tissue events in an inflammatory environment. Proteases of host origin as well as H. pylori-derived proteases contribute to disease progression at every stage, from chronic gastritis to gastric cancer. In the present article, we discuss the importance of (metallo-)proteases in colonization, epithelial inflammation, and barrier disruption in tissue transformation, deregulation of cell proliferation and cell death, as well as tumor metastasis and neoangiogenesis. Proteases of the matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) and a disintegrin and metalloproteinase domain-containing protein (ADAM) families, caspases, calpain, and the H. pylori proteases HtrA, Hp1012, and Hp0169 cleave substrates including extracellular matrix molecules, chemokines, and cytokines, as well as their cognate receptors, and thus shape the pathogenic microenvironment. This review aims to summarize the current understanding of how proteases contribute to disease progression in the gastric compartment.

The paradoxical role of matrix metalloproteinase-11 in cancer

The microenvironment surrounding the tumor affects biological processes, such as cell proliferation, angiogenesis, apoptosis, and invasion. Therefore, the ability to change these environments is an important attribute for tumor cells to obtain specific functions necessary for growth and metastasis. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are zinc-dependent proteolytic metalloenzymes that facilitate protease-dependent tumor progression by degrading extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins, releasing cytokines, growth factors, and other cell surface molecules. As one of the most widely studied MMPs, MMP-11 is an important protease that is expressed in cancer cells, stromal cells, and the adjacent microenvironment. MMP-11 has a dual effect on tumors. On one hand, MMP-11 promotes tumor development by inhibiting apoptosis and promoting the migration and invasion of cancer cells in the early stage. On the other hand, in animal models, MMP-11 has a protective effect on tumor growth and metastasis at an advanced stage. Based on current findings regarding the importance of MMP-11 in altering the tumor microenvironment, there is a need to further understand how stromal cells and the ECM regulate tumor progression, which may result in the re-examination of MMPs as drug targets for cancer and other diseases. In this review, we summarize the dual role of MMP-11 in cancer and its potential clinical significance.

MMP11 promotes the proliferation and progression of breast cancer through stabilizing Smad2 protein

Breast cancer (BC) is one of the most common malignant tumours in women. The matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) enzyme family plays a complex role in the development of BC. There is increasing evidence that MMP11 plays a major role in BC; however, the underlying mechanisms are not clear. The present study confirmed by analysing clinical samples and TCGA data sets, that high expression of MMP11 in clinical samples of BC was strongly associated with a poor prognosis in BC patients. In addition, MTT and colony formation assays indicated that the proliferative capacity of BC was affected when MMP11 expression changed. Furthermore, pathway enrichment analysis was performed and it was revealed that the TGF‑β signalling pathway was a potential downstream target of MMP11. In the TGF‑β signalling pathway, MMP11 could significantly regulate the protein expression levels of Smad2 and Smad3 and inhibit the degradation of Smad2 through the ubiquitin proteasome pathway as determined by western blotting. In vivo, it was further verified that MMP11 knockdown could inhibit tumour proliferation and growth. Collectively, the present results demonstrated that MMP11 inhibited the degradation of Smad2 in the TGF‑β signalling pathway, thereby promoting the development of BC. Thus, MMP11 expression was not only revealed to be an important indicator of BC prognosis but may also be an important therapeutic target for further prevention of BC growth and proliferation. The present study indicated that MMP11‑targeted therapy may provide new solutions for BC treatment.

Bivalent Genes Targeting of Glioma Heterogeneity and Plasticity

Gliomas account for most primary Central Nervous System (CNS) neoplasms, characterized by high aggressiveness and low survival rates. Despite the immense research efforts, there is a small improvement in glioma survival rates, mostly attributed to their heterogeneity and complex pathophysiology. Recent data indicate the delicate interplay of genetic and epigenetic mechanisms in regulating gene expression and cell differentiation, pointing towards the pivotal role of bivalent genes. Bivalency refers to a property of chromatin to acquire more than one histone marks during the cell cycle and rapidly transition gene expression from an active to a suppressed transcriptional state. Although first identified in embryonal stem cells, bivalent genes have now been associated with tumorigenesis and cancer progression. Emerging evidence indicates the implication of bivalent gene regulation in glioma heterogeneity and plasticity, mainly involving Homeobox genes, Wingless-Type MMTV Integration Site Family Members, Hedgehog protein, and Solute Carrier Family members. These genes control a wide variety of cellular functions, including cellular differentiation during early organism development, regulation of cell growth, invasion, migration, angiogenesis, therapy resistance, and apoptosis. In this review, we discuss the implication of bivalent genes in glioma pathogenesis and their potential therapeutic targeting options.

Upregulation of Tubulointerstitial nephritis antigen like 1 promotes gastric cancer growth and metastasis by regulating multiple matrix metallopeptidase expression

BACKGROUND AND AIM

Tubulointerstitial nephritis antigen-like 1 (TINAGL1), as a novel matricellular protein, has been demonstrated to participate in cancer progression, whereas the potential function of TINAGL1 in gastric cancer (GC) remains unknown.

METHODS

The expression pattern of TINAGL1 in GC was examined by immunohistochemistry, ELISA, real-time polymerase chain reaction, and Western blot. Correlation between TINAGL1 and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) was analyzed by the GEPIA website and Kaplan-Meier plots database. The lentivirus-based TINAGL1 knockdown, CCK-8, and transwell assays were used to test the function of TINAGL1 in vitro. The role of TINAGL1 was confirmed by subcutaneous xenograft, abdominal dissemination, and lung metastasis model. Microarray experiments, ELISA, real-time polymerase chain reaction, and Western blot were used to identify molecular mechanism.

RESULTS

TINAGL1 was increased in GC tumor tissues and associated with poor patient survival. Moreover, TINAGL1 significantly promoted GC cell proliferation and migration in vitro as well as facilitated GC tumor growth and metastasis in vivo. TINAGL1 expression in GC cells was accompanied with increasing MMPs including MMP2, MMP9, MMP11, MMP14, and MMP16. GEPIA database revealed that these MMPs were correlated with TINAGL1 in GC tumors and that the most highly expressed MMP was MMP2. Mechanically, TINAGL1 regulated MMP2 through the JNK signaling pathway activation.

CONCLUSIONS

Our data highlight that TINAGL1 promotes GC growth and metastasis and regulates MMP2 expression, indicating that TINAGL1 may serve as a therapeutic target for GC.

Circ_0000260 Regulates the Development and Deterioration of Gastric Adenocarcinoma with Cisplatin Resistance by Upregulating MMP11 via Targeting MiR-129-5p

Background

Cisplatin (CDDP) plays a vital role in the treatment of advanced gastric adenocarcinoma (GAC); however, the development of chemoresistance depletes the overall benefit of CDDP. This study harbored the aim to investigate the role of a novel circular RNA (circRNA), circ_0000260, in DDP-resistant GAC and provide a potential mechanism to explain its function.

Methods

The morphology of tumor tissues and normal tissues was observed by hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining. The isolated exosomes were observed and examined using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA). The expression of circ_0000260, miR-129-5p and matrix metalloproteinase 11 (MMP11) mRNA was measured by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). The protein levels of CD63, CD81, fibronectin, vitronectin and MMP11 were detected by Western blot. Cell viability, colony formation, cell apoptosis, migration, invasion and cell adhesion were monitored by cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay, colony formation assay, flow cytometry assay, scratch assay, transwell assay and cell adhesion assay, respectively. The interaction between miR-129-5p and circ_0000260 or MMP11 predicted by bioinformatics analysis was verified by dual-luciferase reporter assay. Animal experiments were performed in nude mice to explore the role of circ_0000260 in vivo.

Results

The expression of circ_0000260 was promoted in tumor tissues and serum-derived exosomes of GAC patients, and circ_0000260 expression in CDDP-resistant tumor tissues was higher than that in CDDP-sensitive tumor tissues. Circ_0000260 knockdown lessened CDDP chemoresistance, suppressed cell proliferation, migration, invasion and adhesion, and induced apoptosis. In mechanism, circ_0000260 regulated the expression of MMP11 by targeting miR-129-5p. MiR-129-5p inhibition could reverse the functions of circ_0000260 knockdown, and MMP11 knockdown could also reverse the effects of miR-129-5p inhibition. Besides, circ_0000260 knockdown attenuated CDDP resistance during tumor growth in vivo by regulating the expression of miR-129-5p and MMP11.

Conclusion

Circ_0000260 regulated CDDP chemoresistance of GAC by promoting MMP11 expression via targeting miR-129-5p.

Identification of the Prognosis-Related lncRNAs and Genes in Gastric Cancer

Gastric cancer is a common malignant tumor with high occurrence and recurrence and is the leading cause of death worldwide. However, the prognostic value of protein-coding and non-coding RNAs in stage III gastric cancer has not been systematically analyzed. In this study, using TCGA data, we identified 585 long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) and 927 protein-coding genes (PCGs) correlated with the overall survival rate of gastric cancer. Functional enrichment analysis revealed that the prognostic genes positively correlated with death rates were enriched in pathways, including gap junction, focal adhesion, cell adhesion molecules (CAMs), and neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction, that are involved in the tumor microenvironment and cell-cell communications, suggesting that their dysregulation may promote the tumor progression. To evaluate the performance of the prognostic genes in risk prediction, we built three multivariable Cox models based on prognostic genes selected from the prognostic PCGs and lncRNAs. The performance of the three models based on features from only PCGs or lncRNAs or from all prognostic genes were systematically compared, which revealed that the features selected from all the prognostic genes showed higher performance than the features selected only from lncRNAs or PCGs. Furthermore, the multivariable Cox regression analysis revealed that the stratification with the highest performance was an independent prognostic factor in stage III gastric cancer. In addition, we explored the underlying mechanism of the prognostic lncRNAs in the Cox model by predicting the lncRNA and protein interaction. Specifically, CTD-2218G20.2 was predicted to interact with PSG4, PSG5, and PSG7, which could also interact with cancer-related proteins, including KISS1, TIMP2, MMP11, IGFBP1, EGFR, and CDKN1C, suggesting that CTD-2218G20.2 might participate in the cancer progression via these cancer-related proteins. In summary, the systematic analysis of the prognostic lncRNAs and PCGs was of great importance to the understanding of the progression of stage III gastric cancer.

Identifying critical state of complex diseases by single-sample Kullback-Leibler divergence

Background

Developing effective strategies for signaling the pre-disease state of complex diseases, a state with high susceptibility before the disease onset or deterioration, is urgently needed because such state usually followed by a catastrophic transition into a worse stage of disease. However, it is a challenging task to identify such pre-disease state or tipping point in clinics, where only one single sample is available and thus results in the failure of most statistic approaches.

Methods

In this study, we presented a single-sample-based computational method to detect the early-warning signal of critical transition during the progression of complex diseases. Specifically, given a set of reference samples which were regarded as background, a novel index called single-sample Kullback–Leibler divergence (sKLD), was proposed to explore and quantify the disturbance on the background caused by a case sample. The pre-disease state is then signaled by the significant change of sKLD.

Results

The novel algorithm was developed and applied to both numerical simulation and real datasets, including lung squamous cell carcinoma, lung adenocarcinoma, stomach adenocarcinoma, thyroid carcinoma, colon adenocarcinoma, and acute lung injury. The successful identification of pre-disease states and the corresponding dynamical network biomarkers for all six datasets validated the effectiveness and accuracy of our method.

Conclusions

The proposed method effectively explores and quantifies the disturbance on the background caused by a case sample, and thus characterizes the criticality of a biological system. Our method not only identifies the critical state or tipping point at a single sample level, but also provides the sKLD-signaling markers for further practical application. It is therefore of great potential in personalized pre-disease diagnosis.

Impact of Matrix Metalloproteinases 11 Gene Variants on Urothelial Cell Carcinoma Development and Clinical Characteristics

Urothelial cell carcinoma (UCC) is one of the lethal causes of cancer mortality of the genitourinary tract. Carcinogenic epidemiological risk factors exposure and age over 65 years old are associated with UCC risk. Matrix metalloproteinase 11 (MMP11) was suggested as a tumor marker of metastasis and predictor of poor survival in urothelial carcinomas. In this study, we focused on the associations of MMP11 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) to UCC susceptibility, clinicopathological characteristics, and prognosis. In this study, real-time polymerase chain reaction was used to analyze five SNPs of MMP11 rs738791, rs2267029, rs738792, rs28382575, and rs131451 in 431 patients with UCC and 650 cancer-free controls. The MMP11 rs28382575 polymorphic “CT” genotype were susceptible to UCC (AOR = 2.045, 95% CI = 1.088 − 3.843; p = 0.026). For MMP11 rs131451, a significant association was found in 166 UCC patients among age ≤ 65 years old who carried MMP11 rs131451 polymorphic “CC” genotype, which is associated with lower risk to develop later tumor T status (T1-T4) (OR = 0.375, 95% CI = 0.159 − 0.887; p = 0.026) compared with the (CT + TT) genotype. Furthermore, patients of UCC with rs738792 polymorphic “CC” genotype were observed to have higher free of relapse (FS) (p = 0.035), disease specific survival rate (p = 0.037), and overall survival rate (p = 0.009) compared with the rs738792 (CT + CC) genotype. In conclusion, our results demonstrated that the MMP11 SNPs are associated with UCC susceptibility, clinical status, and disease survival. The MMP11 polymorphisms may have potential to predict UCC susceptibility and prognosis.

Molecular Imaging Probes Based on Matrix Metalloproteinase Inhibitors (MMPIs)

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are a family of zinc- and calcium-dependent endopeptidases which are secreted or anchored in the cell membrane and are capable of degrading the multiple components of the extracellular matrix (ECM). MMPs are frequently overexpressed or highly activated in numerous human diseases. Owing to the important role of MMPs in human diseases, many MMP inhibitors (MMPIs) have been developed as novel therapeutics, and some of them have entered clinical trials. However, so far, only one MMPI (doxycycline) has been approved by the FDA. Therefore, the evaluation of the activity of a specific subset of MMPs in human diseases using clinically relevant imaging techniques would be a powerful tool for the early diagnosis and assessment of the efficacy of therapy. In recent years, numerous MMPIs labeled imaging agents have emerged. This article begins by providing an overview of the MMP subfamily and its structure and function. The latest advances in the design of subtype selective MMPIs and their biological evaluation are then summarized. Subsequently, the potential use of MMPI-labeled diagnostic agents in clinical imaging techniques are discussed, including positron emission tomography (PET), single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and optical imaging (OI). Finally, this article concludes with future perspectives and clinical utility.

Circular RNA 0047905 acts as a sponge for microRNA4516 and microRNA1227-5p, initiating gastric cancer progression

Several lines of evidence suggest that circular RNAs (circRNAs) play important roles in oncogenesis and tumor progression. However, our knowledge of the role of circRNAs in gastric cancer (GC) remains limited. We investigated the possibility that circular RNA 0047905 (circRNA0047905) might act as a tumor promoter in the pathogenesis of gastric cancer by profiling miRNA expression in GC tissues and paired noncancerous mucosa tissues using miRNA microarrays. Next, a ceRNA network was constructed according to common miRNAs binding circRNAs and mRNAs. Mechanistically, we demonstrated that circRNA0047905 directly binds miR4516 and miR1227-5p, relieving suppression for targets SERPINB5 and MMP11. We observed that down-regulated circRNA0047905 expression in gastric cancer cells inhibited Akt/CREB signaling pathway activation. RNA scope in situ hybridization revealed expression of circRNA0047905 in GC. Our data suggest that circRNA0047905 is a promising target for GC diagnosis and therapy.

Matrix Metalloproteinase 11 Is a Potential Therapeutic Target in Lung Adenocarcinoma

Lung cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer-associated death, with the etiology largely unknown. The aim of this study was to identify key driver genes with therapeutic potentials in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD). Transcriptome microarray data from four GEO datasets (GEO: GSE7670, GSE10072, GSE68465, and GSE43458) were jointly analyzed for differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Ontologic analysis showed that most of the upregulated DEGs enriched in collagen catabolic and fibril organization processes were regulated by matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). Matrix metalloproteinase 11 (MMP11), the highest upregulated MMP family member in LUAD-transformed cells, acted in an autocrine manner and was significantly increased in sera of LUAD patients. MMP11 depletion severely impaired LUAD cell proliferation, migration, and invasion in vitro, in line with retarded tumor growth in xenograft models. Treatment of different human LUAD cell lines with anti-MMP11 antibody significantly retarded cell growth and migration. Administration of anti-MMP11 antibody at a dose of 1 μg/g body weight significantly suppressed tumor growth in xenograft models. These findings indicate that MMP11 is a key cancer driver gene in LUAD and is an appealing target for antibody therapy.

Epigenetics and Common Non Communicable Disease

Common Non communicable diseases (NCDs), such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, schizophrenia, and diabetes, have become the major cause of death in the world. They result from an interaction between genetics, lifestyle and environmental factors. The prevalence of NCDs are increasing, and researchers hopes to find efficient strategies to predict, prevent and treat them. Given the role of epigenome in the etiology of NCDs, insight into epigenetic mechanisms may offer opportunities to predict, detect, and prevent disease long before its clinical onset.Epigenetic alterations are exerted through several mechanisms including: chromatin modification, DNA methylation and controlling gene expression by non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs). In this chapter, we will discuss about NCDs, with focus on cancer, diabetes and schizophrenia. Different epigenetic mechanisms, categorized into two main groups DNA methylation and chromatin modifications and non-coding RNAs, will be separately discussed for these NCDs.

Regulatory mechanisms of miR-145 expression and the importance of its function in cancer metastasis

MicroRNAs are post-transcriptional mediators of gene expression and regulation, which play influential roles in tumorigenesis and cancer metastasis. The expression of tumor suppressor miR-145 is reduced in various cancer cell lines, containing both solid tumors and blood malignancies. However, the responsible mechanisms of its down-regulation are a complicated network. miR-145 is potentially able to inhbit tumor cell metastasis by targeting of multiple oncogenes, including MUC1, FSCN1, Vimentin, Cadherin, Fibronectin, Metadherin, GOLM1, ARF6, SMAD3, MMP11, Snail1, ZEB1/2, HIF-1α and Rock-1. This distinctive role of miR-145 in the regulation of metastasis-related gene expression may introduce miR-145 as an ideal candidate for controlling of cancer metastasis by miRNA replacement therapy. The present review aims to discuss the current understanding of the different aspects of molecular mechanisms of miR-145 regulation as well as its role in r metastasis regulation.

Molecular alterations of cancer cell and tumour microenvironment in metastatic gastric cancer

The term metastasis is widely used to describe the endpoint of the process by which tumour cells spread from the primary location to an anatomically distant site. Achieving successful dissemination is dependent not only on the molecular alterations of the cancer cells themselves, but also on the microenvironment through which they encounter. Here, we reviewed the molecular alterations of metastatic gastric cancer (GC) as it reflects a large proportion of GC patients currently seen in clinic. We hope that further exploration and understanding of the multistep metastatic cascade will yield novel therapeutic targets that will lead to better patient outcomes.

Bivalent Chromatin Domains in Glioblastoma Reveal a Subtype-Specific Signature of Glioma Stem Cells

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) can be clustered by gene expression into four main subtypes associated with prognosis and survival, but enhancers and other gene-regulatory elements have not yet been identified in primary tumors. Here, we profiled six histone modifications and CTCF binding as well as gene expression in primary gliomas and identified chromatin states that define distinct regulatory elements across the tumor genome. Enhancers in mesenchymal and classical tumor subtypes drove gene expression associated with cell migration and invasion, whereas enhancers in proneural tumors controlled genes associated with a less aggressive phenotype in GBM. We identified bivalent domains marked by activating and repressive chromatin modifications. Interestingly, the gene interaction network from common (subtype-independent) bivalent domains was highly enriched for homeobox genes and transcription factors and dominated by SHH and Wnt signaling pathways. This subtype-independent signature of early neural development may be indicative of poised dedifferentiation capacity in glioblastoma and could provide potential targets for therapy.Significance: Enhancers and bivalent domains in glioblastoma are regulated in a subtype-specific manner that resembles gene regulation in glioma stem cells. Cancer Res; 78(10); 2463-74. ©2018 AACR.

IGF-1-induced MMP-11 expression promotes the proliferation and invasion of gastric cancer cells through the JAK1/STAT3 signaling pathway

The present study aimed to investigate the association between insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) and matrix metalloproteinase-11 (MMP-11) expression in gastric cancer (GC) and the underlying mechanisms in SGC-7901 cells. Reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis revealed that the expression of IGF-1 and MMP-11 was significantly upregulated in GC tissues compared with normal gastric tissue. Furthermore, IGF-1 significantly and dose-dependently promoted MMP-11. Western blotting revealed that the addition of IGF-1 to SGC-7901 cells led to an evident enhancement in signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3), IGF-1R and Janus kinase 1 (JAK1) phosphorylation at 20 and 40 min. A decrease in the extent of the elevated expression of MMP-11 and the enhanced phosphorylation of STAT3, JAK1 and IGF-1 receptor (IGF-1R) induced by IGF-1 in SGC-7901 cells were observed following treatment with NT157 (an IGF-1R inhibitor). Furthermore, piceatannol (a JAK1 inhibitor) or small interfering RNA against STAT3 reduced the extent of the increased expression of MMP-11 induced by IGF-1 in SGC-7901 cells. Piceatannol treatment induced the dose-dependent decline in the enhancement of STAT3 phosphorylation induced by IGF-1, indicating that the JAK1/STAT3 pathway may be implicated in the elevated expression of MMP-11 induced by IGF-1 in SGC-7901 cells. Finally, IGF-1 treatment significantly promoted the proliferation and invasion of SGC-7901 cells, which was inhibited following NT157, piceatannol or si-STAT3 treatment. The present study therefore demonstrated that IGF-1-induced MMP-11 may have facilitated the proliferation and invasion of SGC-7901 cells via the JAK1/STAT3 pathway.

Identification of Biomarkers Correlated with the TNM Staging and Overall Survival of Patients with Bladder Cancer

Objective: To identify candidate biomarkers correlated with clinical prognosis of patients with bladder cancer (BC). Methods: Weighted gene co-expression network analysis was applied to build a co-expression network to identify hub genes correlated with tumor node metastasis (TNM) staging of BC patients. Functional enrichment analysis was conducted to functionally annotate the hub genes. Protein-protein interaction network analysis of hub genes was performed to identify the interactions among the hub genes. Survival analyses were conducted to characterize the role of hub genes on the survival of BC patients. Gene set enrichment analyses were conducted to find the potential mechanisms involved in the tumor proliferation promoted by hub genes. Results: Based on the results of topological overlap measure based clustering and the inclusion criteria, top 50 hub genes were identified. Hub genes were enriched in cell proliferation associated gene ontology terms (mitotic sister chromatid segregation, mitotic cell cycle and, cell cycle, etc.) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathways (cell cycle, Oocyte meiosis, etc.). 17 hub genes were found to interact with ≥5 of the hub genes. Survival analysis of hub genes suggested that lower expression of MMP11, COL5A2, CDC25B, TOP2A, CENPF, CDCA3, TK1, TPX2, CDCA8, AEBP1, and FOXM1were associated with better overall survival of BC patients. BC samples with higher expression of hub genes were enriched in gene sets associated with P53 pathway, apical junction, mitotic spindle, G2M checkpoint, and myogenesis, etc. Conclusions: We identified several candidate biomarkers correlated with the TNM staging and overall survival of BC patients. Accordingly, they might be used as potential diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets with clinical utility.

Proteolysis in Helicobacter pylori-Induced Gastric Cancer

Persistent infections with the human pathogen and class-I carcinogen Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) are closely associated with the development of acute and chronic gastritis, ulceration, gastric adenocarcinoma and lymphoma of the mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) system. Disruption and depolarization of the epithelium is a hallmark of H. pylori-associated disorders and requires extensive modulation of epithelial cell surface structures. Hence, the complex network of controlled proteolysis which facilitates tissue homeostasis in healthy individuals is deregulated and crucially contributes to the induction and progression of gastric cancer through processing of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins, cell surface receptors, membrane-bound cytokines, and lateral adhesion molecules. Here, we summarize the recent reports on mechanisms how H. pylori utilizes a variety of extracellular proteases, involving the proteases Hp0169 and high temperature requirement A (HtrA) of bacterial origin, and host matrix-metalloproteinases (MMPs), a disintegrin and metalloproteinases (ADAMs) and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs). H. pylori-regulated proteases represent predictive biomarkers and attractive targets for therapeutic interventions in gastric cancer.

Lower Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator (CFTR) Promotes the Proliferation and Migration of Endometrial Carcinoma

Background

The incidence and death rates of endometrial cancer are alarmingly increasing. The diagnosis and treatment of endometrial cancer is crucial to decreasing mortality. Cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) belongs to the adenosine triphosphate (ATP)-binding cassette transporter family and plays an essential role in anion regulation and tissue homeostasis of various epithelia. This study explored the expression of CFTR in endometrial carcinoma and the role of CFTR in proliferation and migration of endometrial carcinoma cells.

Material/Methods

Immunohistochemistry and real-time (RT)-PCR were used to test the expression of CFTR in normal endometrium and endometrial carcinoma. CFTR inhibitor was used to restrain the expression of CFTR on the endometrial carcinoma, the effects on the proliferation and migration of endometrial carcinoma cells were also studied. RT-PCR was performed to test the expression of mir-125b after restraining CFTR. Proliferation and migration capability of endometrial carcinoma cells were detected after transfection of endometrial carcinoma cells with mir-125b mimic.

Results

Compared with cells from normal endometrium, the expression of CFTR was significantly upregulated in endometrial carcinoma cells. After adding CFTR(inh)172, the capability for proliferation and transfer of endometrial carcinoma cells was strengthened, the expression of mir-125b was reduced, and after transfection with mir-125b mimics entering the endometrial carcinoma cells, the ability of the proliferation and transfer of endometrial carcinoma cells was also reduced.

Conclusions

The high expression of CFTR in the endometrial carcinoma cells played a pivotal role in restraining the proliferation and transfer of endometrial carcinoma cells.

Androgen-induced miR-135a acts as a tumor suppressor through downregulating RBAK and MMP11, and mediates resistance to androgen deprivation therapy

The main challenge in the treatment of prostate cancer (PCa) is that the majority of patients inevitably develop resistance to androgen deprivation. However, the mechanisms involved in hormone independent behavior of PCa remain unclear. In the present study, we identified androgen-induced miR-135a as a direct target of AR. Functional studies revealed that overexpression of miR-135a could significantly decrease cell proliferation and migration, and induce cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in PCa. We identified RBAK and MMP11 as direct targets of miR-135a in PCa by integrating bioinformatics analysis and experimental assays. Mechanistically, miR-135a repressed PCa migration through downregulating MMP11 and induced PCa cell cycle arrest and apoptosis by suppressing RBAK. Consistently, inverse correlations were also observed between the expression of miR-135a and RBAK or MMP11 in PCa samples. In addition, low miR-135a and high RBAK and MMP11 expression were positively correlated with PCa progression. Also, PI3K/AKT pathway was confirmed to be an upstream regulation signaling of miR-135a in androgen-independent cell lines. Accordingly, we reported a resistance mechanism to androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) mediated by miR-135a which might be downregulated by androgen depletion and/or PI3K/AKT hyperactivation, in castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC), thus promoting tumor progression. Taken together, miR-135a may represent a new diagnostic and therapeutic biomarker for castration-resistant PCa.